NHL Free Agent Rumors: Expensive Restricted Free Agents That Could Move

As the NHL season is nearing the playoffs, fans are getting a good look at many players in top form, players who may become available in the offseason.

We all know the big names that will be available come July 1 when the free agent waters open up, but what follows is a list of restricted free agents that are sure to garner much attention from general managers and that could be on the move.

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Andrei Kostitsyn

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SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 3: Andrei Kostitsyn #46 of the Montreal Canadiens warms up prior to the NHL game against the Florida Panthers on March 3, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

There remains but one Kostitsyn brother on the Montreal Canadiens roster, but for how long? Andrei has had an up-and-down season thus far, and at times has had difficulty finding the net. He is just one of a number of players that the Canadiens will have to reassess come season's end.

But as is stands, Kostitsyn will have to play well down the stretch and into the playoffs if he wants to have a future in Montreal.

Andrew Ladd

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Andrew Ladd #16 of the Atlanta Thrashers warms up before playing the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

A key piece coming back to Atlanta in an offseason trade with the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, Ladd is a high priority for the Thrashers to re-sign. However, if a deal can’t get done expect interest in Ladd to be extremely high. His size and grit combines nicely with his goal scoring touch to fill out the left side of a top-six line on any team.

James Wisniewski

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CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 20: James Wisniewski #20 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Calgary Flames during the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic Game at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Canadiens 4-

Before going down to injury, James Wisniewski played well for the Montreal Canadiens after coming over in a trade from the New York Islanders. He is a big, versatile, puck-moving defenseman that is capable of logging big minutes from the back end.

While he is not generally known for his offensive abilities, he has been a pleasant surprise in Montreal helping to quarterback the power play, which has increased value going forward.

Zach Bogosian

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BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Zach Bogosian #4 of the Atlanta Thrashers readies to enter the ice against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on February 23, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won 4-1. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Bogosian is projected to be a future stud from the back end in the future. A high first round draft choice by the Thrashers, he is slowly developing into a big, strong defenseman, capable to shutting down the best offensive lines in the NHL.

However, rumors suggest that he is not happy with his current situation in Atlanta. If this is the case, watch for this future captain material to light up discussions in the offseason.

Clarke MacArthur

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PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 03: Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in action against The Philadelphia Flyers during their game on March 3, 2011 at The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

When MacArthur burst onto the scene in Toronto, no one was sure what to expect, but has he ever turned out to be a pleasant surprise for Leafs fans. Finding chemistry on a line with Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, MacArthur has been able to notch 20 goals and 32 assists.

General manager Brian Burke has made it clear that he would like to retain the services of MacArthur if the price is right, but if not, don’t be surprised to see him elsewhere next season.

Keith Yandle

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 05: Keith Yandle #3 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Jobing.com Arena on March 5, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in an overtime shoot

Yandle currently leads his team in scoring with 56 points on the season. These numbers make him the highest point producer currently to become an RFA on this list. Considering the fact that he’s a defenseman, these numbers are terrific. Yandle also has a plus/minus rating of plus-five and is only 24 years old, so saying he will be sought after by more than a few teams is probably an understatement.

Cody Hodgson

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 02: Cody Hodgson #39 of the Vancouver Canucks skates up to a face off against the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on February 2, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 6-0. (Photo by C

At the NHL trade deadline the Vancouver Canucks made it clear that Hodgson was not going anywhere, but this didn’t stop his name from popping up in rumors around the league. He is a highly touted prospect, but many wonder if the Canucks have room for him in the near future.

As it stands, barring injury, Hodgson has not been able to crack the Canucks lineup. This is not a result of poor play, in fact when he has played for the Canucks, Hodgson has played fairly well. The fact remains that this is a young player who is eager to play, and if it seems unlikely that he should have a clear roster spot next year, he may very well want to take his talents elsewhere. 

Zach Parise

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NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 23: Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils warms up before a game against the Buffalo Sabres on October 23, 2010 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Sabres defeated the Devils 6 - 1. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Im

The offensive sniper fell to injury early on this season, but teams have seen enough in the past to know what he is capable of doing. Parise can put up numbers with the best of players in the NHL, this includes goals and assists. He is nearly as good a set-up man as he is a pure goal scorer, and considering the fact that top-flight centerman are hard to come by, Parise is a lock when it comes to garnering interest from around the NHL.

After having signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a huge contract in the offseason, will the Devils be able to afford Parise? If not, more than a few teams will pay the hefty price to acquire his abilities.

Shea Weber

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SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 8: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators shoots on goal against the San Jose Sharks in the first period of an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on March 8, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Along with Keith Yandle, Weber will be one of the most highly sought after defensemen in the NHL if Nashville can’t find the big money that it will take to retain his services. Weber has one of the strongest shots in the game, having even shot a puck through the net on one occasion. He is an offensive workhorse and has been working hard to better the defensive side of his game this season.

But as is always the case with the Predators, money will be the question. Seeking a raise from his current $4.5 million salary, the unlikelihood of Nashville losing its captain may become reality.